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An overview of UV-absorbing compounds (organic UV filters) in aquatic biota

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to summarize biological monitoring information on UV-absorbing compounds, commonly referred as organic UV filters or sunscreen agents, in aquatic ecosystems. To date a limited range of species (macroinvertebrates, fish, and birds), habitats (lakes, rivers, and sea), and compounds (benzophenones and camphors) have been investigated. As a consequence there is not enough data enabling reliable understanding of the global distribution and effect of UV filters on ecosystems. Both liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry-based methods have been developed and applied to the trace analysis of these pollutants in biota, enabling the required selectivity and sensitivity. As expected, the most lipophilic compounds occur most frequently with concentrations up to 7112 ng g−1 lipids in mussels and 3100 ng g−1 lipids (homosalate) in fish. High concentrations have also been reported for 4-methylbenzilidenecamphor (up to 1800 ng g−1 lipids) and octocrylene (2400 ng g−1 lipids). Many fewer studies have evaluated the potential bioaccumulation and biomagnification of these compounds in both fresh and marine water and terrestrial food webs. Estimated biomagnification factors suggest biomagnification in predator–prey pairs, for example bird–fish and fish–invertebrates. Ecotoxicological data and preliminary environmental assessment of the risk of UV filters are also included and discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the projects SCARCE (Consolider Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065) and CEMAGUA (CGL2007-64551/HID). Professor Barcelo acknowledges King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) for his contract position as Visiting Professor. Pablo Gago-Ferrero acknowledges Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios (JAE) for his fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council of Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Pablo Gago-Ferrero, M. Silvia Díaz-Cruz & Damià Barceló

  2. Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, C/ Emili Grahit, 101 Edifici H2O, 17003, Girona, Spain

    Damià Barceló

Authors
  1. Pablo Gago-Ferrero
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  2. M. Silvia Díaz-Cruz
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  3. Damià Barceló
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Silvia Díaz-Cruz.

Additional information

Published in the topical collection Emerging Contaminants in Biota with guest editors Yolanda Picó and Damià Barceló.

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Gago-Ferrero, P., Díaz-Cruz, M.S. & Barceló, D. An overview of UV-absorbing compounds (organic UV filters) in aquatic biota. Anal Bioanal Chem 404, 2597–2610 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6067-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6067-7

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